Written by: Sofi Clay
Key LGBTQIA+ Terminology
How we address each other is important as it’s a mark of respect and creates a mannerly first impression. Also being informed on how others wish to be addressed or identified is key to good social responsibility. While some people are uncertain of their identity or sexual preference, many more are fully aware of exactly who they are. Knowledge around certain sexual and gender terminology is essential so that we know what each term or abbreviation stands for.
LGBTQIA+
The acronym used to represent lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual people as a community. The + symbol represents the many other gender identities and orientations that are also part of the community, such as pansexual, non-binary, etc. There are varying longer versions of the acronym, but it is ever-changing and evolving as the community grows and flourishes.
There are many other important LGBTQIA+ terms to learn:
AFAB or AMAB
Someone who was assigned female (AFAB) or male (AMAB) at birth but no longer identifies as female/male.
Allosexual/Alloromantic
People who experience sexual/romantic attraction to others.
Ally
A straight and/or cisgender person who supports LGBTQIA+ rights and equality.
Androgynous
Someone whose gender expression involves a mixture of characteristics that are stereotypically seen as male and female.
Aromantic
A person who experiences little to no romantic attraction to others. Some aromantic people may experience sexual attraction.
Asexual (Ace)
An umbrella term referring to people who feel little to no sexual attraction to others.
Biphobic
Someone who fears or dislikes people who are attracted to people of more than one gender due to false prejudices and stereotypes.
Bisexual (Bi)
Bisexual refers to people who are romantically and/or sexually attracted to more than one gender.
Cisgender (Cis)
Someone whose gender identity is the same as the one they were assigned at birth.
Coming Out
When a person decides to tell others about their sexual orientation and/or gender identity for the first time. Coming out is a very personally significant experience that should be chosen only by the person themselves – you should never “out” someone.
Consent
Verbal permission to do something, e.g., consenting to sexual acts or using a certain pronoun. Someone has the right to revoke consent (change their mind) at any time.
Deadnaming
Referring to a trans or non-binary person by their birth name (i.e. deadname) after they have changed it.
Demigirl or Demiboy
Someone whose gender identity falls under the non-binary umbrella partially identifies as male or female and gender-neutral (e.g., a demigirl might use she/they pronouns).
Demisexual/Demiromantic
An umbrella term referring to people who only feel sexually and/or romantically attracted to people after they have formed an emotional bond with them.
Fluid
Used to refer to sexual orientation changing over time (i.e. fluid sexuality).
Gay
This used to refer primarily to a man who is sexually and/or romantically attracted to other men. However, gay is now used as an umbrella term to refer to same-sex attracted men, women, and by some people with a multi-gender sexual orientation who are currently engaged in same-sex relationships. Some non-binary people also identify with this term.
Gender
The societal differentiation between characteristics makes up the preconceived ideas of masculine and feminine. Gender is a spectrum of males, females, and everything in between (i.e., outside the gender binary). Some people identify as genderless (agender) or gender-neutral. It is very personal, and only you will be able to determine how you identify.
Gender Dysphoria
When someone feels uncomfortable and/or upset because their physical body does not match their gender identity, both trans and non-binary people commonly experience this.
HBT
An abbreviation used to refer to homophobic/biphobic/transphobic attitudes, usually involving discriminatory bullying.
Homophobic
Someone who fears or dislikes people who are attracted to the same sex due to false prejudices and stereotypes.
Intersex
Someone who was born with reproductive and/or sexual anatomy that doesn’t conform to the stereotypical idea of male and female anatomy.
Lesbian
Used to describe either a woman who is attracted to other women or a non-male person who is attracted to other non-males (i.e., some non-binary people).
MTF or FTM
Male to female, female to male (sometimes used by trans people to describe their transition).
Non-Binary
An umbrella term refers to people whose gender identities exist outside of the gender binary (the preconceived ideas about male/female gender). Some people prefer to refer to themselves primarily as non-binary, whereas some people will prefer a more specific term that falls under the non-binary umbrella. Some examples of non-binary gender identities include genderfluid, agender, demigirl, neutrois, etc.
Pansexual (Pan)
Someone who is attracted to all genders and whose sense of romantic and sexual attraction is not limited by gender.
Pronoun(s)
The word(s) used to represent people’s gender. There are a wide range of pronouns to represent all gender identities, such as he or she for cisgender people, they/them for agender people, etc. Some people, such as genderfluid people, like to use a combination of pronouns (e.g., she/they, or she/they/he) and some people use custom pronouns (e.g., xe/xhe or zhe, etc.). Always politely ask someone their pronouns, rather than presuming their preference.
Queer
An umbrella term used by people in the LGBTQIA+ community who prefer not to use specific labels to define their sexuality.
Questioning
Someone who is exploring their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
Sex
A term assigned to a person at birth based on genitalia and reproductive functions.
Sexual Attraction
Experiencing sexual desire towards another person or group of people.
Straight
Someone who is heterosexual and experiences romantic and/or sexual attraction towards people of the “opposite” gender (typically a male and a female). Some people within the LGBTQIA+ community who identify as having fluid sexuality may sometimes refer to themselves as straight if it is relevant to them at the time (this also applies to multi-gender attracted people, such as bisexual or pansexual individuals, who may wish to use this term when romantically or sexually engaged with someone of the “opposite” gender).
Trans
Someone whose gender and sense of self is not the same as the sex they were assigned at birth. Some trans people may desire to physically transition to the sex that matches the gender they identify with, and some may not desire to fully transition. Some people who identify as a non-binary gender may also wish to physically transition, even if they prefer, they/them pronouns (e.g., a non-binary AMAB that wishes to physically undergo male to female transition may identify as non-binary transfemme).
Transitioning
Used to describe a trans person’s transition to their desired gender. Every transition is unique and specific to the person. This can include things like dressing differently, changing names, coming out as trans, hormones, surgery, etc. It’s important to remember that not all trans people want to have surgery.
Transphobic
Someone who fears or dislikes trans people due to false prejudices and stereotypes.
Don’t forget there are many other gender identities and sexual orientations not covered by this guide, but they are just as valid as any of the terms listed here. Be kind to one another and, above all, celebrate each other’s differences.